STATE OF WASHINGTON
ETHICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OPINION NO. 91-2
Question
May a judicial officer solicit contributions in the neighborhood for a
charitable organization?
May a judicial officer solicit funds which are used to purchase
supplies and defray costs of a poetry contest for elementary school
children?
May a judicial officer serve on a trust advisory committee which works
with a lending institution regarding settlement proceeds for minor
children?
Answer
A judicial officer is prohibited by CJC Canon 5(B)(2) from soliciting
funds for charitable or educational organizations. Therefore, a judicial
officer may not solicit funds in the neighborhood for a charitable
organization nor may the judicial officer solicit funds in support of an
elementary school poetry contest.
A judicial officer should not serve on a trust advisory committee
which works with a lending institution regarding settlement proceeds for
minor children as CJC Canon 5(C)(2) provides that a judge should not lend
the prestige of the office to advance the private interests of others.